World Spectacle

“A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can only exist until a majority of voters discover that they can vote themselves largess out of the public treasury.” – Alexander Tytler.

Not an isolated problem, then. What a relief. Miss Monica’s mind calms.

WASHINGTON (Nov. 12) – The White House and congressional leaders agreed Tuesday to begin pushing a bill to create a Homeland Security Department through Congress this week, moving toward a major legislative victory for President Bush…

The bill would … let the new agency do business with American companies that move offshore to avoid U.S. taxes if there are national or economic security reasons to do so, congressional aides said. …

Seems like a mighty cushy deal for offshore supporters of President Bush.

By way of example:

Harken Energy Corp., a Texas oil company where Bush was a director from 1986 to 1993, set up a subsidiary in the Cayman Islands, a popular tax haven, in 1989.

Halliburton Co., a Dallas-based energy services firm, registered at least 20 subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands when Cheney was chief executive from 1995 to 2000, according to Securities and Exchange Commission records.

On Saturday Miss Monica overheard the following brief conversation between two panhandlers shaking down a stream of patrons exiting the donut store at the corner of 16th Street and Santa Monica Boulevard:

First man: Two … hours? You mean to tell me you’ve been standing here two hours working and you can’t get a fuckin’ cigarette from anybody?

Second man: [Whining] Well, I….

First man: Get away from me! What the hell’s the matter with you? Can’t get a fuckin’ cigarette….

URGENT REQUEST
I am a Solicitor resident and practicing in Lagos, Nigeria and I am using this correspondence to urgently seek and request your assistance and cooperation in a sensitive but highly beneficial financial arrangement. An important client of mine whose details and person I cannot release at this point has implored me to contact a reliable and trustworthy partner overseas to urgently receive and handle funds total FIFTEEN MILLION US DOLLARS(US$15.M)in CASH presently lodged in a security/finance outfit in overseas.

Due to my client inability to travel out of the country presently and the fact that we continue to accumulate huge debts daily as long as this consignment remains in the security/finance company we need an associate and partner to proceed as soon as possible to receive this funds for investment purpose as shall be instructed by my client. We have agreed in principle to give twenty-five percent (25%) of the total sum to whom ever shall handle this funds for us while the remaining sixty-five percent (65%)shall be for my client and ten-percent (10%) for me as the attorney.

As soon as you are ready to proceed to receive this cash on our behalf we shall furnish you with the details and information you will need to accomplish this task. Please be rest assured that this arrangement is absolutely risk free And cannot implicate you in any way. However I implore you to handle this matter with urgency and utmost confidence even if you do not intend to execute the project for us. Whatever the case, please acknowledge receipt of this mail via the my Email address. If your response is positive we shall proceed immediately without any delay.

Thank you in anticipation of your cooperation and hoping to hear from you soonest.